Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, and the presidency have clashed over the elimination of gasoline subsidies and the foreign currency policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The President accused Peter Obi of being overly power-hungry and lacking in knowledge of governance, notwithstanding Obi’s observation that the government had carelessly adopted both programs to throw the nation into an economic crisis.
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The former governor disagreed with the way the fuel subsidy was implemented, but acknowledged that it was essential.
Additionally, Peter Obi requested that the administration provide evidence of its spending on infrastructure like poverty alleviation, health care, and education, as well as explain the money saved by eliminating the subsidies.
Recall that President Tinubu had, on his inauguration on May 29 2023, announced the removal of fuel subsidy and flotation of forex exchange, triggering the economic crisis the country had been facing, specifically with regards to inflation and devaluation of the naira.
In an interview on Arise Television, Obi said while the removal of fuel subsidy was necessary, the policy should have been implemented in a “gradual and organised” fashion.
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The presidency and the former Anambra governor have since then continued to fire back at each other. The presidency stated that Peter Obi is only over zealous and power thirsty, adding that he had very shallow knowledge of economy.
